Propeller for ships



(No Model.)

J. D. MARK. PROPEL-LER FOR SHIPS.

Patented Aug. 4, 1 896.

UNITED STATES PATENT JOHN D. MARK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PROPELLER FOR SHIPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 565,170, dated August4, 1896.

Application filed October 1, 1895.

To all whom it nmz/ concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN D. MARK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, Oook county, Illinois, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Propellers for Ships, of which the followingis a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical, andefficient mechanism for propelling ships through the water; and theinvention consis ts in the features and com binations hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of aship with my improvement attached thereto; Fig. 2, a transverse verticalsection taken on line 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, an enlarged detail or one ofthe propelling blades or paddles in its open position and Fig. 4:, anenlarged view of the same, showing the blade in its closed position.

This invention relates particularly to the mechanism for propellingships, and is especially adapted for the propulsion of ships and boatsthrough canals or inland streams.

In the navigation of canals it is well known that the use of ordinarypropellers and side wheels are prohibited, owing to the fact that thesplash from the paddle -wheels or the waves following the boat in theordinary stern-propeller wash the banks in such way as to rapidlydestroy the walls of the same. The principal object of my inventiontherefore is to overcome these objections by providing a simple andeflicient mechanism for propelling the boat without disturbing the waterto any appreciable extent, to such an extent as will raise waves andwash to destroy the banks of an inland canal or stream.

Serial No. 564,269. No model.)

to drive the connecting mechanism and thereby propel a boat, ashereinafter described. The mechanism in Figs. 1 and 2 is shown asapplied to a boat B, of which, as above stated, no detailed descriptionwill be given. Each side of the boat is supplied with propellingmechanism} but it is only necessary to describe one side, as suchdescription will answer for both. The sprocket-wheels and theirsupporting-shafts are placed, as shown in the drawings, one pair at eachend of the boat, and around these sprocket-wheels is passed an endlessdriving-chain O, which sup ports and operates the paddles or buckets, ashereinafter described. For the purpose of propelling the boats along asthe chains are moved a number of buckets D and D are providedalternately and pivoted to the chain, as at d. The buckets D are sopivoted that when the chain is in operation they operate to drive theboat forward, while each alternate set of buckets D is pivoted so thatduring the reverse movement of the chain they will operate to drive theboat backward. In all other respects the construction of the buckets orpaddles is substantially the same, so that the description of one willbe a description of all.

In order to hold the buckets open in their operative position, as shownin the lower portion of the chain in Fig. l, connecting-rods cl areprovided, which are pivoted to the outer free ends of the buckets at dand to the chain at d These connecting'rods are preferably made in twopieces and provided with heads 61 between which is inserted a helicalcoiled spring (Z so that when the buckets are in their operativeposition, as shown in Fig. 2, the water impact in the con cave portionof the buckets draws the bucket into its vertical position and theconnectingrods to their outer position against the tension of thehelically-coiled spring, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. During the continuedmovement of the chain the buckets are drawn from the prow to the sternof the boat and p lOO ' and limb, in that they prevent the people onplished as follows: WVhen the bucket is moved out of the water, itsupper end contacts a loose wheel A located between the sprocketwheels,as shown in Fig. 2. By this action the bucket is tilted in line with thechain and the helically-coiled spring cl allowed to expand to itsgreatest length, thus shortening the connecting-rod and acting to bringthe buckets into their folding position, as shown in Fig. 4:, so that noresistance Whatever of the air or Water is encountered, at least not toany appreciable extent. It will thus be seen that the buckets assumetheir operative position very easily and without making any appreciablesplash. The chain and buckets being propelled gently and at a uniformspeed, no wash is made and the water as it is displaced is thrown to thestern of the boat, leaving a verysmall narrow wake. The waves ordinarilycaused by the prow of the boat, due to displacement of the water, aremet by the propelling mechanism and fiat-5 tened down or minimized tosuch an extent that very little of it reaches the banks of the i stream.

Shields or guards E E are provided and attached to the sides of the boatfor the purpose of covering the propelling mechanism; and protecting itagainst articles that might i accidentally fall overboard or be thrownoverboard, and also from articles floating in the Water, as well asoffering a safeguard for life boats from ordinarily contacting thepropel- I ling mechanism.

1 have not described any particular motor 1 for driving my mechanism-5but it is understood that either steam'or vapor engines, electricmotors, or other prime movers may be used and connected to my improvedmechanism, and while I have entered into a more or less detaileddescription of my improvements and as being embodied in certain preciseforms I-do not desire to be limited thereto unduly any more than ispointed out in the claims. On the contrary, I contemplate all properchanges, the omission of immaterial parts and substitution ofequivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient.

I claim 1. In a ship-propeller, the combination of an endlessdriving-chain, sprocket-wheels upon which such chain is mounted for thepurpose of supporting and driving the belt adjacent to and along theside of a vessel, I

buckets or paddles pivoted at one end to such chain and adapted tocontact the water and propel the vessel along during the movements ofthe chain, adjustable connecting-rods pivoted to the free ends of thebuckets or paddles and to the chain for the purpose of holdin g thebuckets in their inoperative positions, and spring mechanism on suchconnectingrods to permit the expansion of the rods during the operationof the mechanism and close the same when out of contact with the waterfor thepurpose of throwing the buckets into their operative position,substantially-as described.

2. In a ship-propelleiythe combination of an endless driving-chain,sprocket-wheels upon which such chain is mounted for the purpose ofsupporting and driving the belt adjacent to and along the side of avessel, buckets or paddles pivoted at one-end to such chain and adaptedto contact the water and propel the vessel along during'the movements ofthe chain, adjustable connecting-rods pivoted to the free ends of thebuckets or paddles and to the chain for the purpose of holding thebuckets in their inoperative positions,

a spring mechanism on such connecting-rods to permit the expansion ofthe rods during the operation of the mechanism and close the same whenout of contact with the water for the purposeof throwing the bucketsinto their operative position, and protecting-guards for the operatingmechanism, substantially as described.

JOHN D. MARK.

X'Vitnesses:

THOMAS F. SHERIDAN, THOMAS B. McGREeoR.

